SFA (5-2) vs. Louisiana Tech (6-3)
WHEN: DEC. 7 (FRI) 6:30 P.M.
WHERE: WRJ Coliseum (Nacogdoches, TX)
WATCH: ESPN+
Friday night will be a rematch of the game that changed the destinies of two teams last year. Last year, SFA needed a tough road win to give them the confidence to not only challenge but beat teams from "bigger" conferences. Kevon Harris' final drive in Ruston solidified the 2017-2018 squad as a unit and gave them the swagger to topple LSU and push Missouri to the final seconds. The emotional win over the school where Keller started his coaching career was the promise of a strong season that saw its fulfillment in March against Texas Tech in the NCAA tourney.
Last year's LaTech team had only one loss to a ranked Alabama coming into that match, but the surprising beginning had a nightmare end as the SFA loss was the first of a run of defeats that had a star player leaving by Christmas and the bottom end of the C-USA in March. Losing for the first time at home after 11 previous wins seemed to be the trigger to unwind the Bulldogs. They may still be trying to get on track a year later.
This year's Bulldogs are led by their upperclassmen backcourt - primarily Daquan Bracey (Jr) and Derric Jean (Sr). Plenty of faces will be familiar from last year. This is a strong rebounding team and an efficient offense - even if they generally have struggled from long range. Five players are averaging double digits in scoring, but no one player lights it up every night. They have beaten two Southland opponents (Sam and HBU) already by seven points each. Their best win of the year was against a very reduced Wichita State and they are undefeated at home, but they have lost to every slightly significant D1 team they have faced. Tomorrow night is a big game to right this season.
SFA needs solid guard play to keep LaTech from collapsing back on our bigs. They are not a high pressure defense preferring to let their opponents come through them. Oddyst and Jock are probably going to be called upon to shoulder the biggest loads of their young careers. Kevon and Shannon are going to try their best to continually drive into the teeth of the defense and soften them up, but how well they are backed up by outside shooting may be the key. Bain, Mitch, and Fitz need to gobble up the boards while Karl needs to minimize his liabilities. The game last year was won by Kevon showing that he can get to the line at will. This year's game will be no different. It's going to be a battle for the paint. Hopefully that 91 will become 92.
2 freshmen
4 sophmores
6 juniors
1 seniors
WHEN: DEC. 7 (FRI) 6:30 P.M.
WHERE: WRJ Coliseum (Nacogdoches, TX)
WATCH: ESPN+
Friday night will be a rematch of the game that changed the destinies of two teams last year. Last year, SFA needed a tough road win to give them the confidence to not only challenge but beat teams from "bigger" conferences. Kevon Harris' final drive in Ruston solidified the 2017-2018 squad as a unit and gave them the swagger to topple LSU and push Missouri to the final seconds. The emotional win over the school where Keller started his coaching career was the promise of a strong season that saw its fulfillment in March against Texas Tech in the NCAA tourney.
Last year's LaTech team had only one loss to a ranked Alabama coming into that match, but the surprising beginning had a nightmare end as the SFA loss was the first of a run of defeats that had a star player leaving by Christmas and the bottom end of the C-USA in March. Losing for the first time at home after 11 previous wins seemed to be the trigger to unwind the Bulldogs. They may still be trying to get on track a year later.
This year's Bulldogs are led by their upperclassmen backcourt - primarily Daquan Bracey (Jr) and Derric Jean (Sr). Plenty of faces will be familiar from last year. This is a strong rebounding team and an efficient offense - even if they generally have struggled from long range. Five players are averaging double digits in scoring, but no one player lights it up every night. They have beaten two Southland opponents (Sam and HBU) already by seven points each. Their best win of the year was against a very reduced Wichita State and they are undefeated at home, but they have lost to every slightly significant D1 team they have faced. Tomorrow night is a big game to right this season.
SFA needs solid guard play to keep LaTech from collapsing back on our bigs. They are not a high pressure defense preferring to let their opponents come through them. Oddyst and Jock are probably going to be called upon to shoulder the biggest loads of their young careers. Kevon and Shannon are going to try their best to continually drive into the teeth of the defense and soften them up, but how well they are backed up by outside shooting may be the key. Bain, Mitch, and Fitz need to gobble up the boards while Karl needs to minimize his liabilities. The game last year was won by Kevon showing that he can get to the line at will. This year's game will be no different. It's going to be a battle for the paint. Hopefully that 91 will become 92.
2 freshmen
4 sophmores
6 juniors
1 seniors
Ryan
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